My paternal grandmother had this picture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane hanging on the wall in her guest bedroom. I can remember spending the night in that room when I was a little girl. In the morning I would roll over and this picture was what I would see. I was so fascinated by it. A peaceful picture of Jesus kneeling in prayer.
Last night in my devotions I read Matthew 26:36-46 -- the account of Jesus in the garden. What the Bible says presents a very different picture than the one here. When Jesus went to the garden he took three of his disciples with him. He began to be sorrowful and troubled. In Matthew 26:38 it says "Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
I tried to imagine what it would feel like to have your soul be that sorrowful. I have known sorrow in my life but never like that. Jesus was human. He knew what lay ahead. And the human side of him did not want to have to go through it. Verse 39 says "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Luke 22:44 says "And being in anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."
The peaceful picture does not show this anguish. How hard would a person have to pray to even sweat, much less have it be as drops of blood? My heart was so burdened by what I read. It hurt me to think that Jesus was so sorrowful, that he did not want to be beaten, mocked, and then hung on a cross to die. But even as sorrowful as he was he was in complete obedience to his Father's will. Why would he go through this?? Why would he be so obedient??
For me! For you! He did it for the whole world! He took our sins on his shoulders, carried them to the cross, and shed His blood for us. And the remarkable thing is that if I was the only person in the whole world He would still have obeyed His Father's will and would have died just for me. I am so grateful for that.
Oh Lord, that I could be like you and be so obedient!! That is my prayer today!
I tried to imagine what it would feel like to have your soul be that sorrowful. I have known sorrow in my life but never like that. Jesus was human. He knew what lay ahead. And the human side of him did not want to have to go through it. Verse 39 says "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Luke 22:44 says "And being in anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."
The peaceful picture does not show this anguish. How hard would a person have to pray to even sweat, much less have it be as drops of blood? My heart was so burdened by what I read. It hurt me to think that Jesus was so sorrowful, that he did not want to be beaten, mocked, and then hung on a cross to die. But even as sorrowful as he was he was in complete obedience to his Father's will. Why would he go through this?? Why would he be so obedient??
For me! For you! He did it for the whole world! He took our sins on his shoulders, carried them to the cross, and shed His blood for us. And the remarkable thing is that if I was the only person in the whole world He would still have obeyed His Father's will and would have died just for me. I am so grateful for that.
Oh Lord, that I could be like you and be so obedient!! That is my prayer today!
3 comments:
Wow Kay..what memories that picture of Christ brought back. My own Grandma Padgett (paternal grandma) had the same one in HER guest room. We didn't sleep over there very often, although she lived in the same town, we were much closer to my mom's side of the family..but I do remember waking up to that picture!!
Kay,
I'm SO glad you stopped by my blog... and imagine this...
Here it is Sunday morning. Thanks so much for the short Bible lesson. I really do miss going to church each Sunday.
Where I am it's not really possible... it's a 100-mile-plus trip.
Before I moved to Utah, my favorite picture of Jesus was always with the lambs, as the Good Shepherd.
Now, twice each day, I get to "Feed thy sheep", and I always stop to thank Him for this tremendous responsibility.
Shari,
Thank you for stopping by my blog!! I read your blog last night and was so fascinated by where you live. You are a brave woman! Please stop back here anytime! Glad to have ya! God bless!
Hugs,
Kay
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